Cheap, quick and easy ways to smarten up my garden before we get evicted?

[Gammeldragz]

Hi, we rent and the landlord has complained about the state of the garden. Rightly so, it's crap (though it was when we moved in, we've slightly landscaped it since) and I've been moaning to DH for years about it - he is/was a gardener by trade and never wanted to sort ours out, which I get but... Anyway. Rear fence is being replaced by landlord next week, we have a week to make it look OK. Obviously first step is sort the grass (can't really call it a lawn) out. Weed the patio.
We've got bamboo growing up the side of the steps which I hate as it just looks messy and gets in the way so I cut/hack it down every few months but it just comes back. It really makes it look messy but DH reckons it's very hard to kill.

What can I do quickly and cheaply that will make it look less shit and more like we actually care? Budget is around £100! Any advice would be great, thanks in advance.

Well done!

That is the herb bed, only the rosemary and sage are still alive! I'm going to replace the rest when the ground isn't rock solid... I want lavender, the thyme died really quickly so I don't think the soil is right for it and won't bother again. Any other herbs I could grow easily?

@longwayoff what?! No.... I have to cut it, it comes up between the steps and is pushing them apart. No way of digging it up. DH reckons if we spray it second after cutting then sbk may do the job. It's just hundreds of tiny twigs and it grows so fast.

New fence went in this week, looks much better but now I want to paint/stain the older fences so they match! The unstained wood has gone kind of grey (only 3/4 years old) and looks sad next to the new one!

I know! Never plant it! Keep the damned stuff in a pot. Your DH right thats probably the best way to deal with it. Good luck.your garden looks great.

Mowing the grass, getting rid of the rubbish, weeding the patio and giving it all a sweep will make a huge difference.

It needs time spending on it- get rid of the old plastic items, mow the law and weed. You could do that if your OH doesn't want a busman's holiday. What about painting the brickwork?
Once you've tidied up and had the fencing replaced, I'd spend your budget on small table and chairs- 'bistro style from B&Q/ Homebase type store.
Are you planning to stay in the house for a long time? I wouldn't be buying plants for the landlord... If not staying put longer term, do plants in pots that you can take with you when you leave. Maybe too late to grow from seeds this year- your OH will know about all that!
Am not averse to bamboo- it can be good for a bit of height in the garden.

Are you sure it's bamboo and not Japanese knotweed? The stems of a that look quite bambooey

No it’s Bamboo, as seen in picture 2.
You’ve done a lot of hard work. Hope you’re enjoying being outside in the sun.

We have a lovely black mint.. it has got red stems and the leaves taste well like the black mint chewing gum.. We also used to have (till I killed it) a tricolour sage. Both plants look nice even if you dont use them much.

Yes to pots if you will eventually move

MIL dropped off a load of herbs in plastic pots the other day, I'll put them in the herb bed when the ground is diggable.
Painting the brick wall is an interesting suggestion, it does look grotty but I hadn't considered walls as something you can paint... I'll look into it. Imagine I'd need to jetwash it first.
Definitely bamboo, we've managed to get some usable canes from it. I hate it...
We're on a shorthold tenancy so no idea how long we will be here, no plans to leave until we're forced!